Did I say 10? I really meant 5. They may or may not make sense, but that’s not the point.
With Fall season premieres kicking off, I thought we could all use some wise, witty and just plain weird inspiration from my favorite past character on NBC’s hit show, The Office.
Michael Scott gave his two cents whenever he was asked, but mostly when he wasn’t. The show just hasn’t been the same since Steve Carell left the in 2011, taking Michael Scott, Dunder Mifflin’s office manager, to new and exciting places. But let’s not forget the legacy he left and what Michael Scott can teach us about business, or at least how he made us laugh.
In season 2, Michael attempts to teach the temp, Ryan, a few things about business- 10 to be exact. In this episode, he only manages to spill 5 secrets for business which I will share here and we’ll attempt to make them slightly applicable to life around your office.
Michael Scott’s 1st Rule for Business
Play to Win. Don’t sit back going through the motions of business just to stay afloat. You actually want to win the game! Get rid of the “play not to lose” mentality. Here’s a few ways you can play to win starting right now:
- Trust your self.
- Make a decision and go with it.
- Commit to learning.
- Seek advice when needed.
Michael Scott’s 2nd Rule for Business
Win to Play. Michael said, “You gotta play to win and win to play.” For us that means to apply that winner’s strategy to new aspects of the game. If your direct mail campaign has what it takes to bring your company to the top, expand that to your website. Emulate those techniques, combined with experts in the web design field like the crew at Think Local, and get an even better response with a professional website.
If you’ve done the website thing, and you’re reaching traffic and keyword goals- then up the ante with a social media campaign with help from Think Social. Winners never stop training or reaching for that next goal- your business isn’t any exception.
Michael Scott’s 3rd Rule for Business
Adapt and React. This rule for business is extremely applicable today with the use of social media. Those that are reluctant to get on board will find other companies snagging new clients through their websites, Facebook pages or Pinterest boards. What you thought was just for teenagers to waste time while they should be studying is actually something you don’t want to miss out on.
It’s easy and free to get started on social media and the pros at Think Social can help so you can focus on what you do best.
Michael Scott’s 4th Rule for Business
Image is Everything. Branding isn’t just about your logo. While a well designed logo can do wonders for your image, branding encompasses every element of how people see your company. If customer’s aren’t getting the message you intended, it’s time to review these popular branding posts from yours truly:
Michael Scott’s 5th Rule for Business
Safety 1st. When you’re looking to grow your business, even Michael Scott would agree (Okay, maybe not- but it’s Michael Scott people, not Steve Jobs.), that using only ethical, white hat methods are the best way to grow. Avoid these tell-tale signs of black hat methods and run as far as you can from any contractor that suggests them:
- Keyword stuffing
- Invisible text
- Interlinking
- and so much more
Safety 1st people, STOP the madness! There are much better and safer methods that won’t get you punished by Google and other search engines.
And there you have it, friends. We actually made some sense out of Michael Scott’s nonsense! If you love The Office like I do, feel free to share any words of wisdom from your favorite episode of The Office in our comments section.
“I was never in this for the money. But it turns out that the money was an absolute necessity for me.”
-Michael Scott
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